The True Meaning of Christmas & Why it Still Matters Today.
For some, the true meaning of Christmas is hidden below layers of tradition, commercialism and sometimes tacky decorations. Mark brings a different perspective.
A Wonderful Time
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Christmas brings with it so many delights that stir our senses, capture our attention, and fill our lives with joy and excitement; at least for those few days in December.
Decorations blink and sparkle in patterns and shapes that captivate us. Lights line our homes, giving them a fantastical glow. Trees are trimmed and adorned, shining brightly in the darkness of night. Stores overflow with more stock than at any other time of year; shelves filled with toys and sweet treats that reflect the spirit of giving and the festive energy that marks the season.
Is That All?
As fun and exciting as the holiday season may be; is that all it is?
Does Christmas, for you, come and go each year with all the busyness of activities, decorating, and shopping but crowding out any time to pause and reflect on the most important part?
I’m not trying to be a killjoy. The gifts, décor, Santa Claus, family gatherings, dinners, and all the fun that comes with Christmas definitely add to the season, but they can also easily distract us from the real reason Christmas is celebrated in the first place.
The True Meaning of Christmas
A baby lying in a manger, surrounded by the simplicity of a stable, isn’t the popular image of Christmas today. It’s not an advertising gimmick to draw crowds or sell products.
Yet the narrative as recorded in the Bible still resonates with many people; you’ve probably heard it before…
Don’t tune out. I challenge you to hear me through. And if you’ve never heard this, then please listen to the original reason for Christmas; before it went commercial.
…The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David’s town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:10-14 GNT)
This is perhaps one of the most often quoted passages in the Bible; capturing the essence and significance of Jesus’ birth. Have you heard it before? Have you ever paused to truly reflect on it?
Distractions From What Matters Most
Distractions are the things that pull our attention away from what matters most. The worldly allure that surrounds Christmas each year is just that. Are you familiar with the old Christmas hymn Silent Night? It says, “Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright…”
It reflects on the stillness and quiet of that evening over 2,000 years ago when Jesus was born. As ordinary as everything may have appeared, something much deeper was taking place. Only a precious few were given the gift of awareness; able to grasp what was truly happening.
It was the same then as it is today; life was full of distractions that drew many away from a history-changing moment: the advent of the world’s Savior. It took place on a day when few had the time to pause and take notice. The Roman Empire ruled the known world, and everything was in a state of upheaval. Caesar Augustus had issued a census, requiring everyone to travel to their ancestral town to register.
Because of this census, even the parental guardians of the coming Christ were displaced at His birth; swept up in the movement of the crowds. Everyone was busy, focused on navigating this unwanted disruption, trying to make their way through the chaos rather than pausing to consider what might be unfolding beyond the surface.
Who Had Time to Think?
Who had time to think about the coming Savior?
The town they traveled to was Bethlehem. It was bustling. So many people had arrived for the census, all needing a place to stay the night, causing every potential lodging to be filled.
Who had time to notice the needs of this couple; a pregnant woman in search of a suitable place to deliver her baby?
Who Had Time to Care?
Who had time to care about others; or the Savior of the world?
Just outside the town, fields lay quiet under the night sky, where flocks of sheep were kept by shepherds. That night, a host of angels appeared, lighting up the darkness with glory; yet how did such a moment go unnoticed by so many?
The angels spoke to the shepherds, urging them to seek out the Savior, Christ the Lord. They praised God, declaring,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom He is pleased!”
How could such a proclamation not be heard for miles?
Who Had Time to Listen?
Who had time to listen amid all the hustle and bustle; or even a moment to pause and look up, to see the glorious view of the windows of heaven open in the darkness of that night sky on the outskirts of the town? The shepherds hurried and they found Jesus, just as the angels had told them.
Who noticed these strangers seeking out and visiting a newborn baby held in His mother’s arms?
What might have seemed oddly out of place didn’t appear to catch anyone’s attention.
Who Had Time to Recognize the Saviour?
Who had time to recognize the uniqueness and humble state of the Saviour?
Sometime later, astrologers from the far east, a great distance from Israel noticed a new star in the sky; one they understood to be a sign of the birth of the prophesied King of the Jews. They traveled all the way to Jerusalem and arrived there sure to find this newborn King. But He was not there.
Guided by the star, they came to Him. And when they found Him, they worshipped. But they did so alone.
No One Noticed The Star
No one else noticed the star; only a few distant strangers had the desire to seek the One worthy of worship.
There was already a king in Israel; there was no perceived need for another. What relevance could there be in a random star and a few overzealous scientists chasing after it?
Who Has the Openness
Who has the openness to take to heart the things that were above or beyond them?
Like the people in the days of Jesus’ birth, we too can be easily distracted by the busyness that comes with meaningful holidays like Christmas. Year after year, we risk missing the opportunity to pause and reflect on the true reason for the season.
Christmas was established to celebrate the miracle of God becoming man; entering our sin-sick world and experiencing all that we experience yet remaining perfect and without sin. He came not only to teach and live by example what the world so desperately needed to know, but also to die on the cross and rise from the dead; for all of us.
Through His death and resurrection, He offers freedom from the terrible fate of eternal separation from God; giving new and eternal life to those who believe in Him.
From the Greatest Story Ever Told came the greatest truth; the love of God revealed to the world.
Jesus said of Himself,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” (John 14:6)
This is not only an exclusive statement; it is an absolute one. It’s not something we can afford to ignore. Don’t let the distractions of life or your personal worldview tempt you to dismiss this proclamation of Jesus.
Step Back and View the Big Picture
In light of this, when you step back and take in the bigger picture, you’ll see that this is the true and vital reason why Christmas is to be celebrated. If we remove God’s plan to save the world from sin and death through Jesus, then what remains?
Just a busy holiday; one that may bring joy and laughter for a time but ultimately fades when it’s over. Knowing Jesus, who died and rose again to save you from a lost eternity, is something that never ends. It’s worth celebrating always.
Don’t get caught up in what doesn’t last— rejoice in what endures this Christmas.
Receive the Savior, the greatest gift you could ever be given.
What do you think is the true meaning of Christmas? We would to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Mark Hillis
Mark lives in the small rural village of Fenwick, Ontario with his wife Michelle and three boys.
He joined the FBH International team in February 2022, coming from the business world with a design and art background.
Mark is particularly interested in seeing people come to Christ and grow in their faith. He recently produced the series entitled: Sow to Grow.
Mark serves as an elder at Brockview Bible Chapel in St.Catharines , Ontario.
Visit Mark’s contributor’s page here.
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Images Courtesy of:
Christmas Lights – aspasy
Christmas Music – nelam279
Star – geralt
Manger Scene – jeffjacobs1990
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